Luna Belle makes her long-awaited return to the races in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff for statebred or Maryland-sired fillies and mares at seven furlongs. Widely regarded as the best 3-year-old filly in Maryland in 2022 after reeling off five consecutive stakes victories, Luna Belle finished 11th in her most recent start, the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan, and has been away for 512 days. “She came up with minor stuff like bone bruising,” said trainer Hamilton Smith. “I gave her some time off, and I didn’t give her enough, and started over again. It’s just been hectic trying to get her back. She’s pretty much ready to go, so we’ll take a shot and see. I’d like to have given her a race before the Maryland Million, but it didn’t happen.” :: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets. Smith also entered Response Time, the recent winner of the Timonium Distaff on Aug. 26. “She’s doing well,” Smith said. “When you space her races right, she’ll usually give me a good effort. The spacing is just right for her for this race, and she should run well going the seven-eighths. I’m looking forward for her to have a big race.” Fille d’Esprit won the Distaff last year, and has been a stalwart mare for trainer John Robb, having won 15 of 27 starts. She returned from a lengthy layoff to take a high-level allowance at Laurel on Sept. 29, and breaks from post 10 on Saturday. “That was a perfect prep,” Robb said. “The outside post works great.” Robb’s other entrant, Mama G’s Wish, is expected to run in an allowance at Laurel on Friday. Malibu Beauty gave a good try on the pace when third behind graded winner Interstatedaydream in the Twixt on Sept. 30, and cuts back in distance for Gary Capuano. She should show early speed under Jaime Rodriguez, and is very versatile from a distance and footing standpoint. Malibu Moonshine won two stakes races at Maryland last year, but finished last of eight when favored in the Miss Disco at Laurel on July 29. Habitually slow from the gate, she adds blinkers for trainer Charlie Baker. Mavilus, Quiet Imagination, Moonboots, and Sweet Gracie also entered. Intrepid Daydream, Isabella’s Glory, and Canoodle are on the also-eligible list. Maryland Million Ladies Coconut Cake looks to rebound from a seventh-place finish in Laurel’s All Brandy on Aug. 19 when she defends her title in the $125,000 Ladies for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Trained by Tim Keefe, Coconut Cake rallied from off the pace to win the six-furlong Jameela at Laurel on July 1, then didn’t have a good trip when a wide sixth in the open Big Dreyfus on July 15. “She’s coming into this one well,” said Keefe. “We’re disappointed in her last effort. We’re looking to regroup.” Keefe also entered late-kicking Proper Storm, who steps up in class after winning a conditioned claimer at Pimlico on Sept. 17. “Distance is great for Proper Storm, the longer the better for her,” Keefe said. “She’s got to improve a little bit.” Precious Avary, unbeaten from two starts on turf against fellow New Jersey-breds, breaks from the rail with tactical speed. Although she wired the field in her most recent grass effort, the Jersey Girl Handicap at one mile, trainer Tim Shaw isn’t sure she needs the lead. “It will depend on how keen she is,” said Shaw. “We’ll need to play the break and see what happens. If she can settle in and amongst horses, I think she’s pretty tactical in that regard.” Downtown Katie proved her mettle against state-sired stakes company when finishing first in the All Brandy on Aug. 19. She was disqualified and placed fifth for causing stretch interference. She returned to finish fifth in a recent starter allowance at Delaware. Golden Heart is a lightly raced 3-year-old who has won both of her two-turn turf races, including a gate-to-wire score in a $50,000 starter allowance at Delaware on Sept. 1. Clouds of White, up from the claiming ranks for Michael Trombetta, was a sprint winner two starts back, then didn’t have an easy trip in a route try. “The horse inside of her going on the turn drifted out and carried us out with her,” said trainer Trombetta. “She lost an enormous amount of ground and could not recover. We’ll give it another try.” Beautiful Gorgeous and Amplio Esquema entered. Naval Empire and Lifelovenlaughter are on the also-eligible list. ◗ Debut winner Shine On Moon hopes to transfer her good turf form to dirt for trainer Cal Lynch in the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Other contenders include speedy Remember Me, Lucky Cougar, Sheilahs Warcloud, Old Bay, Go Sherry Go, and Enemynumbernine. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.